[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 71 (Wednesday, May 2, 2007)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D606-D608]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
USDA'S SECURITY BRANCH
Committee on Agriculture: Held a hearing on review of the USDA's 
release of program beneficiaries' Social Security numbers and the 
Department's information systems, generally. Testimony was heard from 
Charles Christopherson, Chief Financial Officer, USDA.
AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FDA, AND RELATED AGENCIES 
APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural 
Development, FDA, and Related Agencies Appropriations held a hearing on 
Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services. Testimony was heard from the 
following officials of the USDA: Mark E. Keenum, Under Secretary, Farm 
and Foreign Agricultural Services; Teresa A. Lasseter, Administrator, 
Farm Service Agency; Eldon Gould, Administrator, Risk Management 
Agency; and W. Scott Steele, Budget Officer.
DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense held a hearing on 
the Defense Health Program Overview. Testimony was heard from the 
following officials of the Department of Defense: S. Ward Casscells, 
MD, Assistant Secretary, Health Affairs; MG Gale S. Pollock, USA, M.D., 
Acting Surgeon General, U.S. Army; VADM Donald C. Arthur, USN, M.D., 
Surgeon General, U.S. Navy; and LTG James G. Roudebush, USAF,. MD, 
Surgeon General, U.S. Air Force.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2008
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces 
approved for full Committee action H.R. 1585, National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2008
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Military Personnel 
approved for full Committee action H.R. 1585, National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Strategic Forces approved 
for full Committee action H.R. 1585, National Defense Authorization Act 
for Fiscal Year 2008.
PROTECTING CONSUMER ACCESS TO GENERIC DRUGS ACT OF 2007
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and 
Consumer Protection held a hearing on H.R. 1902, Protecting Consumer 
Access to Generic Drugs Act of 2007. Testimony was heard from Jon 
Leibowitz, Commissioner, FTC; and public witnesses.
BIOSIMILAR MEDICINES POLICY
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing 
entitled ``Assessing the Impact of a Safe and Equitable Biosimilar 
Policy in the United States.'' Testimony was heard from Janet Woodcock, 
M.D., Deputy Commissioner and Chief Medical Officer, FDA, Department of 
Health and Human Services; and public witnesses.
INDUSTRIAL BANK HOLDING COMPANY ACT OF 2007; EXPANDING HOMEOWNERSHIP 
ACT OF 2007
Committee on Financial Services: Ordered reported as amended, H.R. 698, 
Industrial Bank Holding Company Act of 2007.
  The Committee began markup of H.R. 1852, Expanding American 
Homeownership Act of 2007.
  Will continue tomorrow.
STATE DEPARTMENT COUNTRY REPORTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on International 
Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight held a hearing to review the 
State Department's 2006 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. 
Testimony was heard from Barry F. Lowenkron, Assistant Secretary, 
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, Department of State.
CONTESTED ELECTION--13TH DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
Committee on House Administration: The Election Task Force met to 
discuss matters pertaining to the Contested Election in the 13th 
Congressional District of Florida.
  The following motions were adopted: a motion that the Task Force 
initiate an investigation of the Florida 13th Congressional District 
election; adopted a motion authorizing and directing to secure the 
assistance of the GAO, which shall be requested to design and propose 
testing protocols to determine the reliability of the equipment used in 
the FL-13 election, taking into account recommendations by the 
contestant and contestee; the Task Force shall approve any testing 
protocols prior to execution by the

[[Page D607]]

GAO. The GAO may procure such expertise and assistance from 
governmental or non-governmental experts and entities as it deems 
necessary, and shall report its findings to the task force.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on the Judiciary: Ordered reported the following bills: H.R. 
1700, amended, COPS Improvements Act of 2007; H.R. 916, amended, John 
R. Justice Prosecutors and Defenders Incentive Act of 2007; H.R. 1525, 
Internet Spyware (I-SPY) Prevention Act of 2007; and H.R. 1615, 
Security Aircraft Cockpits Against Lasers Act of 2007.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: Ordered reported the following bills: 
H.R. 1595, amended, Guam World War II Loyalty Recognition Act; H.R. 
359, amended, Cesar Estrada Chavez Study Act; H.R. 713, amended, 
Niagara Falls National Heritage Area Act; H.R. 1100, amended, Carl 
Sandburg Home National Historic Site Boundary Revision Act of 2007; 
H.R. 986, amended, Eightmile Wild and Scenic River Act; H.R. 505, 
Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act of 2007; H.R. 487, 
Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Equitable Compensation Amendments Act of 
2007; H.R. 1114, Alaska Water Resources Act of 2007; H.R. 1080, Grand 
Teton National Park Extension Act of 2007; and H.R. 1140 South Orange 
County Recycled Water Enhancement Act.
MEDICAID CHILDREN'S DENTAL PROGRAM
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on Domestic 
Policy held a hearing on Evaluating Children's Dentistry Under 
Medicaid. Testimony was heard from James Cosgrove, Director, Health 
Care, GAO; Dennis Smith, Director, Center for Medicaid and State 
Operations, Department of Health and Human Services; Susan Tucker, 
Executive Director, Office of Health Services, Department of Health and 
Mental Hygiene, State of Maryland; and public witnesses.
LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT HATE CRIMES PREVENTION ACT OF 2007
Committee on Rules: Granted, by vote of 9 to 4, a closed rule. The rule 
provides 1 hour of debate on H.R. 1592, Local Law Enforcement Hate 
Crimes Prevention Act of 2007, equally divided and controlled by the 
Chairman and Ranking Minority Member of the Committee on the Judiciary. 
The rule waives all points of order against consideration of the bill 
except for clauses 9 and 10 of rule XXI. The rule provides that the 
amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on 
the Judiciary, modified by the amendment printed in the report, shall 
be considered as adopted, and the bill, as amended, shall be considered 
as read. The rule waives all points of order against the bill, as 
amended. The rule provides one motion to recommit with or without 
instructions. Finally, the rule provides that, notwithstanding the 
operation of the previous question, the Chair may postpone further 
consideration of the bill to a time designated by the Speaker. 
Testimony was heard from Chairman Conyers and Representatives Smith of 
Texas, Daniel E. Lungren of California, Gohmert and Weldon of Florida.
NASA SPACE SCIENCE PROGRAM
Committee on Science and Technology: Subcommittee on Space and 
Aeronautics held a hearing on NASA's Space Science Programs: Review of 
Fiscal Year 2008 Budget Request and Issues. Testimony was heard from 
Alan Stern, Associate Administrator, Science Mission Directorate, NASA; 
and public witnesses.
VETERANS BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE
Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Investigations and 
Oversight held a hearing entitled ``Is the Veterans Corporation 
Prepared To Provide Entrepreneurial Development Assistance to Service 
Men and Women Returning From Iraq and Afghanistan? Testimony was heard 
from William D. Elmore, Associate Administrator, Office of Veterans 
Business Development, SBA; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES; U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS SURVEY RESOLUTIONS
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Ordered reported the 
following measures: H. Res. 352, Supporting the goals and ideals of 
National Public Works Week; H. Con. Res. 79, Authorizing the Use of the 
Capitol Grounds for the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby; H. Con. Res. 
123, Authorizing the Use of the Capitol Grounds for the District of 
Columbia Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run; H. Con. Res. 124, 
Authorizing the Use of the Capitol Grounds for the National Peace 
Officers' Memorial Service; H.R. 1505, amended, To designate the 
Federal building located at 131 East 4th Street in Davenport, Iowa, as 
the ``James A. Leach Federal Building;'' H.R. 1773, amended, Safe 
American Roads Act of 2007. The Committee also approved U.S. Army Corps 
of Engineers Survey Resolutions.
FISCAL YEAR 2008 INTELLIGENCE AUTHORIZATION ACT
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session 
and ordered reported, as amended, H.R.

[[Page D608]]

2082, Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008.